Compiled from: www.englishclub.com  (modified)

       

 

How To Learn English

Where do I start?

Why do you want to learn English?
Before you begin (or go back to) studying English, ask youself one question. Why do I want to study and learn English? Is it because you want to, or because someone else wants you to?

Like every decision in life, studying English must be something you want to do.

Tips and ideas on the best ways

to learn English faster

Tips for Beginners

  1. You are like a new baby
    Babies learn their language slowly.
    First they learn to listen.
    Then they learn to talk.
    Finally, they can read and write.

  2. Listen to English every day
    Listen to English programmes.
    Watch English movies.

  3. Speak English
    Make up conversations.
    Practise dialogues.
    Use beginner textbooks.

  4. Read English stories
    Start with children's storybooks.
    Read advertisements, signs and labels.

  5. Write down new words
    Start a vocabulary (new word) notebook.
    Write words in alphabetical order (A...B...C...).
    Make example sentences.
    Always use an English-English dictionary first.

  6. Keep an English diary
    Write Sentences.
    Start with one sentence.
    Write another sentence tomorrow.
    Answer questions such as:
          How do you feel?
          How is the weather?
         What did you do today?

 

More TIPS for learning English

Don't be afraid of grammar

  • Grammar is for communication
    Remember that you only study grammar in order to communicate. Practise with a few exercises, then write an essay or have a conversation and try to use your new tools.

  • Isolate your weak points
    Don't waste time on grammar exercises that you already understand just because they are easier for you. Concentrate on grammar that is difficult for you. If you are unsure of where your problems are, write a few short essays or paragraphs and ask a teacher to circle repeated errors. Then you can look up your problem and practise it.

  • Teach grammar points to a friend
    Find a friend who studies at a lower level than you. Teaching will force you to remember the rules and to understand them properly.

     

Improve your homework skills

  • Stay organized. Keep separate notebooks for exercises, writing, and vocabulary.

  • Study in short, regular periods.

  • Allow a short amount of time for review.

  • Don't allow distractions. Consider TV, and the telephone off limits while you are studying.

  • Study in a place where you feel happy and comfortable.

  • Have a drink and snack handy so that you don't have to get up.

  • Use a pen that you love.

  • If you study in pairs or groups, make an English-only rule.

 

Have fun learning English!

The things we do best in life are the things we enjoy doing. If you aren't having fun learning English, you're not studying the right way!

You can be a serious student who has fun at the same time.

Ideas for Fun with English

  • Have an English-only evening at least once a week.  Watch English movies.
  • Talk to yourself in English while you clean or do the dishes.

  • Go around the house and try to name everything in English (furniture, clothes etc). Look up words you don't know.

The 4 Skills

(Listening, Speaking, Reading, Writing)

Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing are the main skills you need to communicate in any language. Being very good at only one of these skills will not help you to communicate. For example you need to be able to read well before you can write well. You also need to be able to listen before you can speak.

It helps to think of these communicative skills in two groups.

  • INput      «««
    • Listening (in through your ears)
    • Reading (in through your eyes)
  • OUTput   »»»
    • Speaking (out through your mouth)
    • Writing (out through your hand)

It's simple. Think of it this way.

First you have input.     ◄

Next you have output.   ►

First you listen to someone ask you a question.  

Second you speak and give them your answer.   

First you read a letter from someone.   ◄

After that you write back to them.       ►

These are examples of communicating.

Input and output don't necessarily go in a specific order. Sometimes you speak first and then you listen. Sometimes you write and others read.

During communication, the person you are communicating with uses one of the opposite skills. Therefore, in order to understand each other, everyone must be skillful in all four areas.  (Read more about input and output)

Some students want to know which skill is the most important. Since all of the skills rely on each other, they are all important.

1. How to learn LISTENING

  • Watch English TV
    Children's programming is very useful for EFL learners.
    Choose programs that you would enjoy in your own language.
    Remember that much of what you hear on TV is slang.

 

2. How to learn SPEAKING and pronunciation

  • Talk to yourself
    Talk about anything and everything. Do it in the privacy of your own home. If you can't do this at first, try reading out loud until you feel comfortable hearing your own voice in English.

  • Record your own voice
    This might feel very uncomfortable, but it will help you find your weak pronunciation points. Listen to yourself a few days later.

  • Participate in class

  • Learn common idioms

  • Practice tongue twisters

 

3. How to learn READING and vocabulary

  • Read something every day
    Children's books, magazines, Internet sites, novels, and much much more...

  • Read what interests you.
    Remember that you learn better when you are having fun.

  • Read at the appropriate level
    You want to learn new vocabulary, but you also want to understand what you are reading. If you are looking up every word, the reading is too difficult.

  • Review Who, What, Where, When, Why for each story you read.
    You can do this for almost any type of reading. Who is it about? What happened? Why did it happen? Where did it take place? When did it take place? This is very useful when you have no comprehension questions to answer. You can write or speak your answers.

  • Always have an English-English dictionary nearby
    It is a bad habit to always rely on a translation dictionary.

  • Record vocabulary in a personal dictionary

    • Keep this notebook separate from other work

    • Record vocabulary in alphabetical order (an English address book works well because it has letters of the alphabet)

    • Record the part of speech (sometimes there is more than one)

    • Write a sample sentence

    • Review your personal dictionary (especially new entries) every night before bed

 

4. How to learn WRITING and spelling

  • Write your local news in English. (Keep a diary)
    Don't always pay attention to grammar. Free-writing can be very useful. It can show you that writing is fun.

  • Write emails in English
    Stay in contact with teachers or other students.

  • Learn important spelling rules
    Remember, you won't always have a dictionary, especially when you are writing a test. Even native English speakers need to review the spelling rules from time to time.

  • Learn common English errors. Here is a good link to learn about English errors: http://www.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/